We all have times we need to work someplace other than the office. I've done it traveling for work, crunching on a project over a weekend, or stuck at home by icy roads. The last six weeks have been different. When my mother's health started to decline, I was able to temporarily relocate 650 miles away without a worry about work productivity.
With the caveat that I've probably got nothing on those of you who worked from your home office for years or roam a huge region, here's what I've learned so far.
my 7 secrets for remote work success
1) Make the most of your phone system
2) Go beyond old-school BYOD
3) Make sure your mobile data plan is up to snuff
Thankfully, my cellphone plan includes a whopping 30GB of shared data and rollover to boot. Despite almost two weeks working from my mother's hospital room, I never worried about running over, even when I needed to download large presentations. Plus, most work activities just don't soak up that much. For example, I noticed running HUD demos all day at a tradeshow earlier this year and participating recently in a live webinar each barely made a dent in my data.
4) Take charge everywhere you go
I don't recommend the bargain basement variety you see for $5 or $10. They don't typically hold enough to fully charge a larger battery like my Samsung Galaxy S5, much less a tablet. Those cheapies also don't tend to last as long. Spend about $20-$40 for as many milliamps (mAh) as you can get in a shape and size that suits you. I've got an ultra slim flat backup battery I carry in my purse along with a retractable cable. I also keep spares that aren't as purse-friendly in my laptop bag and in the car. These are largely a pre-emptive strike against changing bags or just forgetting to recharge after heavy use.
5) Don't forget to accessorize
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6) Make a point to keep in touch
7) Be flexible
Did I miss any?
The combination of company culture, great phone features, UC, and some of my favorite gadgets have made working remotely easier than I ever thought possible. I'll be grateful for that for many, many weeks to come.
Got any additional tips as I look ahead week seven and beyond? Leave a comment below!